Groups Demand Clear Timeline for the Removal of Canada's Garbage in the Philippines
Gigie Cruz-Sy/GAIA
Environmental and labor groups opposed to foreign waste dumping today asked the Canadian government to reveal exactly when it will take their rotting garbage out of the Philippines.
Fearing that Canada’s promise to resolve the long-drawn-out dumping
controversy will end up as an empty promise, the groups sought a clear timeline
for the return of the illegal trash consignments to its origin.
The groups reiterated the need to put the garbage dumping issue to a close as
the Philippine Earth Month is observed this April as per Proclamation 1482
issued on April 10, 2008.
It will be recalled that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last November
2017 assured President Rodrigo Duterte of his government’s commitment to
resolve the garbage issue, announcing at a press conference on the sidelines of
the 31st ASEAN summit that “it is now theoretically possible to
take (their rubbish) back.”
“Over four months have already lapsed since PM Trudeau made that pronouncement
and we remain clueless as to when Canada’s garbage will be finally shipped
out. As this is a matter of national concern and pride, it is only just
and proper for us, the people, to demand transparency from the authorities as
to what is being done to settle the problem,” said Josua Mata, Secretary
General, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO).
“We hope Canada is not purposely keeping our people in the dark about its
efforts to rectify this festering environmental justice issue. PM
Trudeau can quickly erase any suspicion by publicly disclosing his
government's plan and timetable for re-importing Canada's garbage, which they
cannot delay any further. We have the right to know and to expect PM
Trudeau to honor what he said he would do," said Aileen Lucero, National
Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
The EcoWaste Coalition and SENTRO are among the
intervenors in Criminal Case No. 143-11191 against the Canadian trash
importer Adelfa Eduardo and customs broker Sherjun Saldon for violation of R.A.
6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act,
that is being heard by Judge Tita Bughao-Alisuag of Manila Regional Trial
Court, Branch 1.
In 2013-2014, a total of 103 shipping containers of mostly residual garbage from Canada disguised as scrap plastics for recycling entered the Philippines. Twenty-six of these garbage-filled containers were unlawfully disposed of in 2015 at a privately-run landfill facility in Tarlac.
On November 22, 2017, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority sought the urgent removal of the remaining containers of Canadian trash from Subic port as the stench has become “unbearable” and posed “health hazards.”
Few days later, Senate President Koko Pimentel on December 4 proposed a legislative
inquiry “to determine whether there are sufficient laws restricting the
indiscriminate entry and dumping of solid waste and other forms of harmful
trash into the Philippines,” citing “the monumental consequences of
allowing Canadian garbage to remain in the country.”
On January 26, participants of the 2018 Zero Waste Conference organized by the
EcoWaste Coalition wrote to PM Trudeau to remind him to keep his promise.
“Nothing could bridle the anger and frustration
(over the dumping issue) until the illegal trash shipments are finally sent
back for environmentally-sound disposal in Canada,” the conference participants
pointed out through an e-mail sent to PM Trudeau.
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